Who makes it
Valentina Andrei works in the vineyard by hand, sorts harvested grapes strictly and avoids unnecessary cellar intervention. Cave Valentina Andrei is a Valais domaine with its cellar in Saillon. Its bottles include red Gamay and white wines named Petite Arvine, Petite Arvine Granite, Completer and Vin Oxydatif.
In 2012, Valentina Andrei decided to establish her own domaine. Her first purchased parcel was Les Bans in Martigny. The independent domaine's range includes Gamay Vieilles Vignes from three areas in Martigny, including Plan Cerisier.
Where it grows
Saillon is where the cellar is located. The 2025 Petite Arvine pairs the grape name with granite terroirs at Fully Gryon, Carro and La Louye.
How it is made
The cellar
Vineyard work is done by hand, and harvested grapes are sorted strictly. In the cellar, Andrei avoids unnecessary intervention. Gamay Vieilles Vignes follows a separate red wine method: the grapes are destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeast, kept in stainless steel for three weeks and then pneumatically pressed. Indigenous yeast means fermentation begins with yeasts already present on the grapes and in the cellar. A pneumatic press uses air pressure to separate the wine after fermentation. That Petite Arvine release is matured for nine months in barrels. Stainless steel is neutral and does not add oak flavour.
What they make
The range divides by grape and colour. Gamay Vieilles Vignes is the red wine. The white wines are Petite Arvine, Petite Arvine Granite and Completer, with Vin Oxydatif as another white bottle. Petite Arvine and Petite Arvine Granite keep the grape name in both titles, while Completer is a white made from one named grape. Most of the wines spend time in barrels, where slow oxygen exchange can add texture and spice.
That Petite Arvine has a very expressive nose, with fresh fruit, star fruit, kiwi, wisteria and lime. Its palate is dense and vinous, then carries freshness, length, salt and minerality into a long, rich finish.